Serving utensil



Julie 4, 1935. w, m 2,003,895

SERVING UTENSIL Filed July 16, 1934 Patented June 4, 1935 SERVINGUTENSIL William S. Martin, Rochester, N. Y. Application July 16; 1934,Serial No. 735,498

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined food, liquid or beverage or thelike supporting means and an ash receiver associatedtherewith. Coldliquids and beverages, such as ice tea, ginger ale,

beer and other drinks are frequently served in a manner which causesdrippings from the drink containers or vessels as the latter are liftedfor drinking purposes to dropon tables, counters or the like andsometimes on the clothes of per- These drippings may be caused byoverflow of the liquid over the upper edge of a tumbler, glass or otherdrinking container or vessel or by reason, of moisture incident tocondensation due to the preparation of cold drinks in particular.- Thesedrippings from happen at hostelries, clubs, lunch rooms, parties orunder ordinary conditions in households. Sometimes waiters andwaitresses in hotels, clubs, lunch rooms and other places serve cold andhot drinks on trays and thesetrays are frequently moist and drippingsfall from the liquid or bever age vessels as they are lifted from thetrays and served to. patrons. These drippings are sometimes injurious tofurniture and to clothes for the vesselsas the liquids are suchsupporting personal wear. There are times at home or other gatheringswhen it is important that furniture and clothes be protected from thedrippings of ng vessels and from cigars and cigarettes and especiallywhen drinks alone are being served in public or at home smokersfrequently deposit ashes from cigars and or dishes in which the drinksin the serving thereof and in such instances provision is not madeagainst such drippings from the liquid' or beverage containing vessels.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a servicedevice or utensil for the support of liquid or beverage containingvessels and associated with which meansis provided to effect removal ofmoisture from the bottoms of served to patrons or friends or whereby theuser prior to partaking of the liquid orbeverage may readily wipe orremove the moisture from the bottom of the vessel to prevent drippingsfrom the vessel.

Another object of'the invention residesin the provision of a servicedevice or utensil, embodying among other characteristics, means for thesupport of food or a liquid or beverage containing vessel or upon" whichboth food or liquids and beverages may be supported and associated withmeans is an ash receiver having a combined closure and absorbentsupportthe drinking vessels mayy from the burning of the, furniture andtablecloths incident to ashes falling ing means on whichithe bottom of aliquid or beverage containing vessel may be supported or moved to removemoisture from the bottom of the vessel to prevent drippings of moisturefrom the vessel as it is lifted for drinking purposes;

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of atray or the like embodying two supporting portions designed especiallyfor the support of a liquid or beverage containing vessel and-which islight in weight and which may I. be transportedffrom one place toanother or which mayi remainstationary on a table, counter or othersupporting-means for the support of the liquid or "beverage-containingvessel and one of which supporting means is provided with ab- 15 sorbentmaterial over which the liquid or bevthe vessel to prevent drippings ofmoisture from the vessel when the latter is lifted for drinking .20purposes.

It is still further designed to provide an individual service tray orthe like for use in hostelries, clubs, lunch rooms or in the householdat meal time or at the time of parties and which em- 25 bodiesoppositely disposed connected liquid or beverage containing vesselsupporting portions, one portion constituting an-ash receiver providedwith a combined cover and an absorbent vessel supporting meanscontaining vessel may be readilyshii'ted from one supporting portion tothe other, and when positioned on said combined cover and supportingportion capable'of being operated thereon to wipe therefrom moisturefrom the bottom thereof .to '35 prevent drippings of moisture from thevessel when lifted for drinking purposes and in which device provisionis also made for the support of live or dead cigars or cigarettes.

vention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated intheaccompanying drawing and pointed out in'the claims. hereto appended,it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion andminor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing theinvention.

In the draW1n82- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention Iillustrating a tumbler, glass or other vessel mounted on one of thewhereby the liquid or beverage 30 With these and other objects in view,the inany of the advantages of supporting portions of the inpanyingdrawing, the reference character I sorbent vessel supporting means.

" or any other suitable material.

a tumbler, goblet,

'2 dividual utensil designedfor the purposes hereinbefore andhereinafter stated.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the drinkingvessel removed.

the ash receiver.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a still further modiflcation of combinedash receiver, cover and abto the accomindicates, a dished tray or liquidor beverage containing vessel support, which, as illustrated, isfashioned somewhat after the nature of a dish or saucer and it may beconstructed of stainless metal, chinaware, glass, composition materialsThis tray or support I is particularly adapted for the support of glassor any other type of the like containing vessel 2 Referring now moreparticularly liquid, beverage or t which is generally supported in thecenter I of the port I and ash receiver tray or support I. v

A cylindrical ash receiver 4 is shown as associated with the tray orsupport I and it may be connected rigidly thereto in any suitable mannerand this ash receiver may be composed of any suitable material but it ispreferably of the same material as that of which the tray or support Imay be formed.

One manner of means for rigidly connecting the tray or support I and theash receiver 4 together may reside in a connecting web 5, includingwings 8 and I. This web 5 and the wings 8 and 1 are preferably connectedto the upper edges of thetray or support I in any suitable manner and ifthe web 5 and the wings 8 and I are formed of sheet metal or similarmaterial and the tray or support I and the ash receiver 4 are composedof like material the connections between the web and wings and the trayor sup- 4 may be effected by jwelding, soldering or otherwise.

' within the ash .grooves 8 and The wings 8 and I are providedwithgrooves 8 and 9, respectively for the support of cigars or cigarettes.The sides of these grooves 8 and 8 preferably flare inwardly and havesloping bottoms, as shown. The grooves 8 and 8 are preferably open endedand'the inner ends thereof communicate with the interior of the ashreceiver 4 through openings I8 and II, respectively formed in the sidewalls of the ash receiver 4 so that the smoked ends of the cigars orcigarettes may lie 8 orotherwise positioned in the grooves as may bedesired.

The ash receiver 4 has an interior rib I2 formed as the result of theformation of an externai continuous groove I8. This rib I2 is broken asregards continuity at theaforesaid openings I and II and it is disposedpreferably adjacent the upper edge ofthe ash receiver 4 to form a seatfor the eflective support of a .supporting member I4 designed to supportthe liquid or beverage containing vessel 2 over the ash receiver 4 andto provide a cover for the latter.

This supporting member" I4 is provided with a central or other opening Iwhich is designed to permit the passage of ashes therethrough' into theash receiver when the liquid or beverage eonform of cover and vesselsupporting member for receiver 4 when supported in 'e' taining vessel 2is not disposed on the supporting member I4. may be provided withperipheral lugs I6 and I1 adapted to fit in the respective grooves 8 and9 in the wings 8 and 1, respectively so as to prevent rotative movementof the vessel supporting member I4 on the ash receiver 4. This vesselsupporting member I4 is preferably composed of absorbent material and itis reversible in that it may be turned from one side 'face to the otherside face with the lugs I8 and I1 arranged to fit in the respectivegrooves 8 and 8 when' the member I4 is reversed. This vessel supportingmember I4 maybe formed of asbestos or other relatively stiff materialsuch as blotting material or the like and it is adapted to absorbdrippings fromthe liquid or beverage containing vessel 2 incldent tooverflow of liquid or fluid from the latter incident to the chillorbecause of condensation ing of drinks through the medium of ice. In theevent of undue wear or other deterioration of the supporting member I4it may be readily replaced by an unused device of. similar form andcharacter. Ordinarily the liquid or beverage containing vessel 2isdisposed in the center 3 of the tray or support I and transported by awaiter or maid or other person from one place to another, if desired orthe vessel 2 may be filled at a table, counter or the like while thevessel is positioned in the center of the tray or support I. Topreventdrippings from the vessel 2 finding their way to a tablecloth,table, counter or the clothes of the user the vessel 2 may be liftedfrom the center 8 of the tray or support I and placed on the absorbentsupporting member I4 where by the hand typeof rib or shoulder or seatI2. The vessel supporting member I4 may be supported in various otherways than that illustrated. I do not wish to be limited to theparticular kind of material of which the supporting member I4 is com-The vessel supporting member I4 I do not wish to be'limited to theparticular posed. It may be composed of any suitable material, evenmetal, if desired but it is preferable that it be composed of asbestos,pasteboard, blotting paper orthe like so as to be effective for thewiping of the bottom of the vessel 2 in the manner previously stated soas to. prevent drippings incident to overflow or condensation from thevessel 2 as it is taken from over the supporting device for thepartaking of a drink from the vessel. There may be times when it isdesired that the member I4 be fixed on a suitable seat in the ashreceiver or that the supporting member I4 be positioned in any suitablemanner over the upper open portion of the ash receiver and I comprehendsuch embodiment of the invention in one aspect thereof. There may betimes when it is desired that the-vessel supporting member I4 berotatable on the rib form or other shoulder or seat I2 and in such anevent the lugs I8 and I1 are eliminated but as shown as projecting fromthe periphery of the supporting member I4 these lugs I8 and I1effectively prevent rotative movement of Y the supporting member I4whenit is desired that'the same be readily removable and insertablebutnot rotatable.

I'wish it also understood that of the invention grooves 8 and 8 may beeliminated from the device and I believe that I have made it clear thatin one aspect the cigar and cigaretteholding 2,00 ,sca

the military device including the tray or support I 4 and the web s,including may be formed of sepsrate pieces of material or stamped,molded or otherwise formed in one piece of material.

Itmight be prefersble under certain conditions to mount the absorbentsupport member 54 relatively stifi member it snd'eitlier ettoch it tothe member 38 or have it detachable with relation thereto. Theadditional, supporting member 853 would, of course, have on opening itadapted to coincide with the member i I! the two members i l and is eresecin'ecl together and both composed of absorbent materiel thesupporting member i i-=- versible us in the case of the member ll.However, this member it may be formed of material other than obsorbentteriel but the member 96 preferably sossesses absorbent characteristicsso as to provide for the wiping covey or removal of moisture from thebottom oi the cup, beverage container before the letter is lifted oil ofthe supporting means disposed on the ssh re-. ceiver In the use of thedevice embg inven-: tion the some may be used in various vvcys. Thevessel 2 may be positioned normally or generally on the supporting meanstherefor over the ssh receiver 3 or the vessel 2 may be support-eelnormolly or generally at the center 8 oi the troy. or support l enddisposed over the ssh receiver 3 only for the purpose of removingdripplr cs or moisture from thelbottom of the vessel 2. before isredrinks sre'to be pertelsen from the vessel In hostelries, clubs ofsimilar pieces it easy be goreierable for the sake of safety that thewaiter, waitress or other attendant carry the vessel 2 containingliquids or beverages on the tray or support 3 and especially as/it wouldfacilitate the removal oi ashes from ,clgers or cigarettes if the vessel2 were not normally disposed over the ssh receiver it it might bepreferable in most instances to permit the vessel 2 to be supported onthe trey or SKI-Q1- port 6. In any event the device is pr'eieroblylightand it is preferably substantial veniently and readily trensmrted fromshelves to tables in hotels, clubs and similer pieces es will be readilyunderstood. The device is particularly serviceable for use at bridge orother parties and is economics] of manufacture and as the side walls ofthe ash receiver 6 preferably taper downwarclly it is possible toprovide for e nestling or at least s. partial nestling of s. pluralityof the devices together for. storage or for transportation purposes.

For instance, a. superimposed ssh receiver 3 may be seated partially atlcost in c. lower ssh receiver 5 and accordingly the superimposed trayor support i will be partially seated in the lower dished tray orsupport I and which latter member is preferably dished to prevent escapeoi. any water, moisture or dripplngs which may overflow from the vessel2 onto the troy or support 9. if this tray or support l were formed ofshape other than circular as it may well be ceiver it could remaincylindrical or its shape might also be altered to present other than acylindrical formation. In other words the tray or support l and the ashreceiver ii may be formed of oval, hexagonal, rectangular or other shapeas may be preferred.

In certain uses of that crackers,

the invention it is possible cakes or the like may be served liquid orbeverage containing vessel 2 ogcenins it in the use oi. the singlesupport. The seversl members it,

gloss or other liquid or and umy be comalongside or the vessel! of thetrey or support I.

As a matter oi fact cakes or other food might be served on the tray orsupport l and the supported at such times on the supporting means it orthe supporting means lt-lc over the receiver 4. I

in Fig. 6 there is illustrated o further iorm 01' combined ash receivercover and vessel support wherein the some may be composed of a series ofsuperimposed members i9, so end 20. The momlccrs it and 26 arepreferably composed of outsble absorbent materiel and the intermediatemember so may be also composed of absorbent material or it may becomposed oi metal or other material to stifieu the combined cover andvessel 28 and 2! have lit be eliuing openings 22 sud like the iormillustrated in Fig. 5, as well as the'iorm illustrated in Figs. 1 to s,inclusive, the members it, 26 and 25 may or may not include theperipheral loss for dissnd the ssh receiver. Wiist is claimed is: l. sdevice of the character-described coniorlslng as food, liquid orbeverage vessel supportlug portion and on ash receiver connectedthereto, and s member extending across the upper ortion of the sshreceiver and 'removsbly mounted on the upper portion of the ssh receiverfor the support of the liquid or beverage vessel.

2. A device of the character descilbed comprising e. relatively largecircular disk shaped food, liquid or bevel-sue vessel supporting uortionend on ssh receiver oi cylindrical shape and of smaller cross=sectioneldiameter than the crosssectlonel diameter oi the sold disk shsoedportion sud connected thereto, and c fist member reinoveloly mounted onthe ash receiver end erteridizog across the upper portion thereof andremovebly supported by the side wall of the ssh receiver for the supportoi the liquid or beverage vessel, said-member forming a. removable coverfor the ssh receiver and having on opening therein for cigcrettesupporting grooves therein.

4; A device of the clisrscter described comprisi'or the ssh receiver andhaving an opening therein for the passage therethrough oi cigar or retteashes into the ash receiver, the connection between the said food,liquid or vessel 'rette ashes into the p rti food, liquid or beveragevessel supporting ash receiver connected thereto,

ing a portion and an I for the ash receiver and having an openingtherein (or the therethrough oi cigar or cigaash receiver, theconnection between the said iood, liquid or vessel supporting portionand the ash ash receiver to the said combined supand cover member, saidcombined supporting and cover member having lugs projecting irombtheperiphery thereoi and extending into said grooves to prevent rotation ofthe same. 6. Adevice oi the character described comthrough the side wallor the interior of the latter/below Q prising a food, liquid or beveragevessel supporting porting portion and the ash receiver having cigarreceiver, and a flat laminated absorb'ent member portion and an leadingthrough the side wall 015 irom the periphery said grooves to preventrotation'oi the same, said combined support and cover member beingcomash receiver connected thereto, and a member removably mountedon theash receiver for the support of the liquid or beverage vessel. saidmember forming a removable cover for the ash receiver and having anopening therein for the passage therethrough or cigar or cigarette ashesinto the ash receiver, the connecticn between the said food, liquid orvessel supand cigarette supporting grooves therein and the ash receiverto the interior of the latter below said combined supporting and covermember, said combined supporting and cover member having lugs projectingthereof and extending into posed of absorbent material to take drippingsand moisture from the bottom oi said vessel.

- '1. A device of the character described comprising two spaced liquidor beverage vessel supporting portions connected together, one oi saidportions constituting anash receiver, and a flat horizontally disposedabsorbent member removthe top of the ash receiver and supported by theupper portion or the latter to absorb moisture from said vessel andhaving an opening therein for the cigarette ashes into the ash receiver.

8. A device of the character described comprising two spaced liquid orbeverage vessel supporting. portions connected togetherin spacedrelation, one of said portions constituting an ash removably mountedacross the top 01 the ash receiver portion of the-device to provide acover for the ash receiver and to support the liquid or beveragecontaining vessel to absorb moisture from the latter and provided withan opening for the passage of cigar and cigarette ashes into' the ashreceiver when the said vessel is removed from said member.

9. A device the character described comprising a member'including an ashreceiver having an interior seating means, and an absorbent member extenng across the ash receiver and removably disposed on said seating meansto form a cover for the ash receiver and adapted to absorb moisture fromvessel supported thereon.

10. A device of the character described comprising a member including anash receiver having an interior seating means, and an member extendingacrossthe ash receiver and removably disposed on said seating means toform a'cover tor the ash receiver adapted to abcigarette ashes receiverhaving cigar and cigarette supporting grooves therein and leading to,and a passage or cigar and aliquid or beverage containingabsorbent sorbmoisture from a liquid orbeverage containing vessel supported thereon,said member having an opening therein for the passage of cigar and intothe receiver.

11. A device 01 the character described com- 5 prising a memberincluding an -ash receiver having an interior seating means, and amember extending across the ash receiver and removably disposed on saidseating means to form a cover for the ash receiver and adapted tosupport a liquid or beverage containing vessel thereon, said membe;-including a plurality oi superimposed layers oi absorbent materialhaving alining openings ior the passage of cigar and cigarette ashesinto the ash receiver. i5

12. A device or the character described comprising a member including anash receiver having an interior seating means, and a member extendingacross the ash receiver and disposed on said seating means to form acover for the ash .receiver and adapted to support a liquid or beveragecontaining vessel thereon, said member including a plurality orsuperimposed layers of material having alining openings, one of thelayers being stiiler than the remaining layers.

13. A device or the character described comprising a iood, liquid orbeverage vessel supporting portion and an ash receiver connectedtheremember removably mounted onthe ash receiver for the support 0! theliquid or beverage vessel, said member forming a removable cover tor theash'receiver, the connection between the said food, liquid or vesselsupporting portion and the ash receiver having cigar and cigarettesupporting grooves therein.

' 14. A device of the character described comprising a food, liquid orbeverage vessel supporting portion having a central depression therein,an ash receiver, a web connecting the supporting portion and the ashreceiver at their upper edges and spacing them slightly apart, and a hatabsorbent member extending across the upper portion of the ash receiverand forming a removable cover for the latter and also serving as meanson which a liquid or beverage containing vessel may be supported or thebottom 01 which vessel may be wiped to remove moisture from the bottomof the vessel.

15. A device or the character described com prising a food, liquid orbeverage vessel supporting portion, an ash receiver, a web connectingthe supporting portion and the ash receiver at their upper edges andspacing them slightlyapart, and a flat absorbent member extending acrossthe upper portion 01 the ash receiver and forming a removable cover forthe latter and also serving as means on which a liquid or beveragecontaining vessel may be supported or the bottom of which vessel may bewiped to remove moisture from the bottom of the vessel.

16. A device of the character described comprising two supportingportions connected together, one of said portions constituting an ash--receiver, and a flat removable and reversible cover member extendingacross the upper portion or the ash receiver, the ash receiver having anash receiving opening in the side wall thereofv below the cover member.

1'1. A device oi the character described com prising a food, liquid orbeverage vessel 'supporting portion and an ash receiver connectedthereto and a cover member removably mounted said iood, liquid or vesselsupporting portion and on the ash receiver, the connection between the7| the ash receiver having cigar and cigarette supporting groovestherein.

18. A device of the character described comprising a food, liquid orbeverage vessel supporting portion and an ash receiver connected theretoand a cover-member removably mounted on the ash receiver, the connectionbetween the said food, liquid or vessel supporting portion and the ashreceiver having cigar and cigarette supporting grooves therein andleading through the side wall of the ash receiver to the interior of.the latter below the cover member.

19. A device of the character described comprising a food, liquid andbeverage vessel supporting portion and an ash receiver connected theretoand a cover member extending entirely across the upper portion of theash receiver and removably mounted thereon.

20. A device of the character described comprising two supportingportions, one of said portions constituting an ash receiver, and a covermember for the'ash receiver removably supported on the latter at theupper portion of the interior thereof and having an opening therein forthe passage of cigar and cigarette ashes into the ash receiver, thelower portion of the ash receiver below the cover member supportingportion being unobstructed.

21. A device of the character described comprising two supportingportions, one otsaid p01.- tions constituting an ash receiver, and acover member for the ash receiver removably seated in the latter acrossthe upper portion of the interior thereof and having an opening-thereinfor the passage of cigar and cigarette ashes into the ash receiver, theentire floor of the ash receiver being adapted to receive ashes, saidcover being composed of absorbent material and reversible and adapted toabsorb moisture from the bottom of a drinking vessel when the latter ismoved thereover. WILLIAM S. MARTIN.

CERTlFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,003,895. time 4, 1935.

WILLIAM S. MARTIN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,first column, line 36, for "of" read errand page 4, second column, line7 claim 17, strike out the words "said food, liquid-or vessel supportingportion and" and insert the same after line 75, of said claim; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of July, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

